On this episode of the Tornado Trackers Podcast, Aerospace Engineer Nick Underwood joins us to talk about the role of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hurricane Hunters. Equipped with instrumentation, these aircraft and crew members fly into hurricanes to gather data used in life-saving forecasts issued by the National Hurricane Center. Nick discusses his particular role aboard the P-3 Orions, his journey to joining the  Hurricane Hunters team, what it's like to fly through a Category 5 hurricane, and his ultimate dream of one day becoming an astronaut.

Nick Underwood Twitter | Instagram
National Hurricane Center: www.nhc.noaa.gov
NOAA: www.noaa.gov

Intro/Outro Music:  NEW HORIZONS - Lesion X 

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The Tornado Trackers team dives into their first hurricane podcast episode as they break down the story behind being trapped outside in the eyewall of Hurricane Delta. The Category 2 storm made landfall in Southern Louisiana during the hyperactive, record-breaking 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Through excessive use of the word "unnerving", Jeff and Gabe describe how a flat tire forced them to hide behind buildings in downtown Gueydan, LA for two hours while pieces of the town flew by.

Trapped by Hurricane Delta - A Storm Chasing Documentary (16:01)
https://youtu.be/XtmT_xKMQKg

Extreme Hurricane Delta Footage - 4K UHD (4:35)
https://youtu.be/HlMvhAVGT-E

Intro/Outro Music:  NEW HORIZONS - Lesion X 

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A strong believer in experiencing the atmosphere from the inside of a mobile weather radar, Dr. Karen Kosiba has participated as a radar operator, project scientist, and project leader in a multitude of scientific field projects utilizing the DOW (Doppler on Wheels) for studying tornadoes, hurricanes and wildfires.

In this episode, Dr. Kosiba shares war stories from the field where she and her team battled the elements to collected valuable data while storm chasing, and discusses the type of information she has been able to collect in some of the world's wildest weather.

Dr. Karen Kosiba Twitter | www.karenkosiba.com

Dodge City Mud Fest - https://youtu.be/uyQfxBgFmoI
TedTalk - https://youtu.be/qhbX_BPrJwU

Intro/Outro Music:  NEW HORIZONS - Lesion X 

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Our guest this week is meteorologist and storm chaser Kathryn Prociv. Kathryn is the weather producer for NBC news where she works closely with Al Roker and supports the flagship shows of the TODAY Show and Nightly News with Lester Holt. Prior to working at NBC News, Kathryn spent five years as a meteorologist and weather producer at The Weather Channel. There, she produced across all programming platforms including the morning and prime time live shows.

In this episode Kathryn discusses the challenges of effectively communicating the weather to the general public and shares her own weather story that led her into a career in meteorology.

Kathryn Prociv Twitter | Instagram

The Weather Channel IMR's:
Storm Surge - https://youtu.be/x7mt2gJx5b0
Tornado Survival - https://youtu.be/lUIsx0LdO5k
Wildfire - https://youtu.be/9EprnWrMNpw
Tornado Hits TWC - https://youtu.be/0cODBQqaGTw

Intro/Outro Music:  NEW HORIZONS - Lesion X 

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Emmy award winning meteorologist Jim Spencer discusses one of the most memorable day's of his 30-year career in television: May 27, 1997. Known as the Central Texas Tornado Outbreak, the day gave birth to one of Texas' most infamous tornadoes - the Jarrell, TX F5. Jim talks about how what seemed to be a typical severe weather day in Central Texas turned into a "freak of nature" weather event as he relayed warnings live on KXAN throughout the afternoon and evening. When all was said and done, the Jarrell F5 left a path of unimaginable destruction and claimed the lives of 27 people.

Jim Spencer Twitter | Facebook

Jim Spencer reporting on Jarrell, TX.  https://youtu.be/mu37iDs_wcA

Start of the Jarrell, TX Tornado l https://youtu.be/c6EhR47EM-g

Home Video of the Jarrell, TX F5 | https://youtu.be/KTYHP5_dxh4

Intro/Outro Music:  NEW HORIZONS - Lesion X 

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In Part II of a special two-part series, the Tornado Trackers share Jeff's perspective of the surprise regional tornado outbreak that ravaged Canton, TX on April 29, 2017. After he and Gabe become separated, Jeff finds himself running for his life from a mile-wide EF4 tornado. Just when he thinks he is out of harm's way, a second large tornado touches down leaving him racing to safety again.

In this episode, Jeff discusses how a previous traumatic event influenced his response to the aftermath of the Canton tornadoes. It is a reminder that every chaser brings their own life experiences with them on the road, and that those experiences can unexpectedly impact their reaction in certain situations.

Gabe also clears the air on where he and Jeff's understanding of the day stands, and reveals which breakfast food is the most powerful force for relational healing.

Tornado Trackers Twitter | Instagram | YouTube  

Canton, TX Tornado (Jeff's View) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5bv4Idcz1c

Intro/Outro Music:  NEW HORIZONS - Lesion X 

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In Part I of a special two-part series, the Tornado Trackers share one of their most frightening storm chasing experiences during the surprise regional tornado outbreak that ravaged Canton, TX on April 29, 2017. When Gabe's car slides off the road near a mile-wide tornado, he's stuck in a flooded ditch having last seen the now rain-wrapped tornado coming straight for him. The only thing he can do is make a goodbye video to his family and take cover in the car.

In this episode, the team becomes transparent about the mistakes that landed them in a terrifying situation where Jeff and Gabe  become separated as multiple tornadoes threatened their lives. This cautionary tale serves as an example of how personal motives can deeply effect the outcome of a chase. 
 
Tornado Trackers Twitter | Instagram | YouTube  

Canton, TX Tornado (Gabe's View) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJKT6gNq-t0

Intro/Outro Music:  NEW HORIZONS - Lesion X 

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Emmy award winning ABC Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee shares about her journey into the world of storm chasing and broadcast meteorology. After witnessing  the devastation of Hurricane Katrina during her first major storm report, Ginger Zee realized storm stories where about humanity at their core. Hear how reporting on natural disasters has caused her to dig deep into who she is as a person and the purpose behind what she does for a living.

Ginger Zee Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

LIVE from Hurricane Michael https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS1yz7KRnio

Natural Disaster. I Cover Them. I Am One.  https://amzn.to/2NZdsYa

Chasing Helicity https://amzn.to/3bivayo

Intro/Outro Music:  NEW HORIZONS - Lesion X 

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The Tornado Trackers recount filming a tornado in Fort Stockton, TX on May 17, 2019 during what became the perfect storm chase. On a day where most storm chasers targeted the McCook, Nebraska tornado, Jeff and Gabe were forced to stay close to home and target SW Texas. A slow-moving supercell provided a little bit of everything, from giant hail to incredible storm structure, to a nearly stationary tornado. Everything lined up to create an epic and memorable chase day (except for when Gabe was almost killed by lightning).

Tornado Trackers Twitter | Instagram | YouTube  

Ft. Stockton Tornado - https://youtu.be/T3DO5SlAJS8

Vaporwave Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6pHNooI6WG9jCO4G2El7Ng?si=xLDX6sakSzSZ1lZf9jxMtA

Intro/Outro Music:  NEW HORIZONS - Lesion X 

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Legendary storm chaser and documentary filmmaker Pecos Hank (Hank Schyma) discusses how the art of storm chasing and video production has enabled him to come alongside scientists to support research and advancements in our understanding of the sky.  

https://youtu.be/y73ZVT56Sz4 Madill, OK close-range tornado video 

https://youtu.be/X3Im2XDoqRo Twister Sisters’ Dalton to Ashby, MN Tornado 

https://youtu.be/15Rdfz1UPJk Red Sprites and Green Ghosts  

https://youtu.be/WFx9y4g9kNc Tornado Simulations  

https://youtu.be/gMws8ueXJ7U Fastest Tornado Ever (Pilger, NE) 

https://youtu.be/Gfr8MExtDYI Hank’s Favorite Tornado - Dodge City, KS 

Intro/Outro Music:  NEW HORIZONS - Lesion X 

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